NEW YORK – The Columbia women’s basketball team faced its first loss of the season in their home opener against Richmond, falling 77-67 on Saturday night at Schiller Court in Levien Gymnasium. With this defeat, Columbia’s record now stands at 2-1.
Game Summary
The game began with a closely contested first quarter, where Columbia managed a narrow lead of 13-10. Richmond struggled initially, shooting only 3-for-19, but recovered impressively to finish the game shooting 22-for-35 (62.9%). The Spiders took control, leading by seven points at halftime and maintaining an 11-point advantage into the third quarter, ultimately carrying a double-digit lead through much of the final period.
Coach’s Comments
Columbia head coach Megan Griffith remarked on the challenge presented by Richmond, stating, “It’s a very talented team. I think Maggie Doogan is one of the best players in the country. It was great to get to match up against that this early in the season. I just thought they outplayed us as a team and I thought we had a lot of selfish plays that we made in this game. Unfortunately, that’s just not going to win you a lot of games against good opponents.”
Player Highlights
Leading the charge for Richmond were Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom, both scoring 16 points. Doogan further contributed with nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Alicia Newell also added 16 points, along with four steals, while Ally Sweeney recorded 15 points and nine assists.
For Columbia, junior Riley Weiss matched the game-high with 16 points, despite a challenging shooting night, going 7-of-25. Senior co-captain Susie Rafiu secured a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow senior co-captain Perri Page scored 15 points, and sophomore Mia Broom tallied a career-high 14 points.
Shooting Statistics
The team’s shooting percentages starkly contrasted, with Richmond converting 12-of-26 (46.2%) from behind the arc compared to Columbia’s 5-of-24 (20.8%). Richmond also excelled at the free-throw line, finishing a perfect 15-for-15, while Columbia managed only 8-of-15 (53.3%).
Second Half Dynamics
In the latter half, despite a late surge from Columbia that saw Weiss score on a three-point play narrowing the deficit to eight points with just 50 seconds remaining, time was not on their side. The teams exchanged free throws, but Columbia was unable to close the gap further.
Game Flow
After Columbia’s initial lead, Richmond quickly turned the tide, taking their first lead early in the second quarter with a 7-0 run. By halftime, they were up 32-25. Columbia briefly reduced the margin to five points in the third quarter, but Richmond pulled away, ending the period ahead by a significant margin and ultimately winning by 10.
Celebrating Achievements
Before the match, Columbia honored its achievements by raising the 2025 Ivy League Championship banner and celebrating last year’s first NCAA Tournament victory. Columbia has maintained a strong track record, winning three consecutive league regular-season titles, including the outright title for 2024-25.
Upcoming Game
Columbia will look to rebound as they host Saint Joseph’s on Thursday. The game is scheduled to tip off at 11 a.m. at Schiller Court and is set to welcome over 2,000 elementary school students from New York City for Education Day.
Stay Connected
For the latest updates on the Columbia women’s basketball team, follow @CULionsWBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.
